Aerator nozzle

Abstract

An aerating or fluidizing device is located adjacent the gravity discharge opening of a hopper. The device is in the form of a flexible, resilient member fixed so that a marginal edge normally contacts and defines an interface with an associated surface. Air under pressure is fed to the interface in such fashion as to cause the marginal edge of the resilient member to flutter and allow the air to escape in randomly directed "puffs." The fluttering movement combined with the intermittent puffs of air causes pulverulent material to be agitated, aerated and/or fluidized as it passes to the discharge opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for agitating and aerating pulverulent material, comprising in combination: a base member defining a supporting surface and a flexible, resilient disc lying flatwise in face-to-face contact with said supporting surface, said supporting surface including a substantially flat annular portion and said disc including a substantially flat annular bottom surface portion in registry with said annular portion of the supporting surface;   said disc being of circular form having a central portion and an annular skirt projecting radially therefrom, said skirt defining an outer marginal edge portion presenting said annular bottom surface portion lying flatwise in face-to-face contact with said annular portion of said supporting surface and an intermediate portion joining said outer marginal edge portion to said central portion; and   means securing said central portion of the disc to said base member for allowing said skirt to flex; and   manifold means for subjecting substantially the entire circumferential extent of the bottom surface of said intermediate portion to the simultaneous application of air under pressure while said annular bottom surface portion of the outer marginal edge portion of the disc is in flatwise face-to-face contact with said annular portion of the supporting surface;   said skirt having a resiliency such that when subjected to an air flow of from 10-400 standard cubic feet per minute through said manifold means with a pressure drop in the range of 1 to 10 pounds per square inch when discharging into normal atmospheric pressure, said skirt is caused to flutter such randomly directed discrete puffs of air are expelled circumferentially of said skirt.   
     
     
       2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base member is provided with an annular recess underlying said intermediate portion of the disc and defining therewith an annular chamber comprising said manifold means. 
     
     
       3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said bottom surface of said intermediate portion of the skirt is provided with an annular recess in substantial registry with said annular recess in the base member, the thickness of said intermediate portion due to such annular recess therein, being less than the thickness of said outer marginal edge portion of the skirt. 
     
     
       4. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the outer margin of said annular recess is bevelled outwardly to form an obtuse angle with the interface between the bottom surface of said marginal edge portion of the skirt and said support surface. 
     
     
       5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the bottom of said intermediate portion of the skirt is provided with an annular recess overlying said base member and defining therewith an annular chamber comprising said manifold means. 
     
     
       6. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base member is provided with a series of closely spaced openings arranged in an annular path underlying said intermediate portion of the skirt and defining said manifold means therewith.